Sale FC dug deep against high flying Chinnor, unbeaten in their previous seven away fixtures, to record a highly creditable 22-19 win.

Sale were quickly on the front foot with a Matt Bradley try and a Chris Johnson conversion giving them a seven-point lead after just two minutes.

Chinnor levelled on 22 minutes following some explosive running by winger Jason Worrall, flanker James Tyas forcing his way over to score with Laurence May converting.

From that point, the visitors took the upper hand having frequent success from lineout drives and a yellow for Sale’s Johnson gave them a numerical advantage.

That might have been telling but for a touch of skullduggery in the loose which resulted in a Sale penalty enabling them to relieve the pressure.

The 14 men fought hard to keep the visitors at bay, until a penalty award enabled Chinnor to kick to within 10 metres of the Sale line.

Now restored to 15 men, Sale were unable to contain the Chinnor pack, hooker Nick Selway scoring with May adding the extras on the stroke of half-time.

Sale closed the gap on 49 minutes as substitute hooker Juan Pablo Rivas broke clear in midfield. Jack Moorhouse – playing his 250th game for the club – took the ball on and found Patrick Ah Van on the wing who dived over in the corner .

Sale continued to play expansive rugby whenever possible, regaining the lead on 53 minutes, Moorhouse again at the heart of the action linking with To’a, supported by Johnson with a clear run to the posts converting his own try to take the score to 19-14.

Into the last quarter Sale extended their lead with a Johnson penalty but were soon down to 14 men when Pablo Rivas was yellow carded.

Chinnor looking for a try spurned opportunities for three points.

Sale, however had other ideas and superbly organised defence combined with a massive physical effort brought the home side a well-earned victory .